title: The role of family, religiosity, and behavior in adolescent gambling.
abstract: Predictors of adolescent gambling behavior were examined in a sample of 436 males and females (ages 13-16). A biopsychosocial model was used to identify key variables that differentiate between non-gambling and gambling adolescents. Logistic regression found that, as compared to adolescent male non-gamblers, adolescent male gamblers were older, had more conflict in their family, were more likely to have used drugs, and have peers that gamble. Compared to adolescent female non-gamblers, adolescent female gamblers had more attention and thought problems, and scored higher on rule-breaking. For both males and females, religiosity was a protective factor against involvement in gambling. Some of the results are consistent with previous research, while some of these findings are unique to this study. These results shed light on factors to consider when developing programs to combat the negative impacts of gambling on adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada. dcasey@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Annik M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mossière
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Schopflocher
authors.forename: Nady
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Guebaly
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hodgins
authors.forename: Garry J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012067:Religion